The Steel Guitar Forum

I used to think that it took a lot of power to amplify a pedal steel.

Lately I have been using my old Standel amp on all of my gigs. It's a tube amp that puts out about 35 watts. I seem to have plenty of head room and everyone can hear me with no problem.

Do we really need those big high powered amps?

The guy with the loudest amp wins.

Seriously, I used a Standel Custom with JBL 15 for years. They get a great tone and will play loud enough for me. If more volume is needed, they can sure be miked.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Bob Sedgwick on 25 August 2002 at 06:44 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jim I agree.
But it doesn't have to be a Standel. I think any good 50 watt tube amp using a 15" speaker would work just fine for steel.

I play most gigs these days with a 30 watt tube amp (a THD BiValve). I'd hate to play a gig it wasn't loud enough for.

In my opinion, 300 watts is for masochists.

Seriously, no guitar player uses that kind of power, in fact only bass players need that kind of wattage and I doubt if it's really necessary for them.

Sure, we don't want distortion but smaller amps with good speakers in properly designed cabinets will deliver the goods.

Where you position the amp onstage is critical. Be sure you can hear it louder than anyone else.

We have 3000 watt sound systems these days, and monitors so good only the rich and famous could afford them just a few years ago. Let the PA do the heavy lifting.

If your're using a crummy sound system AND playing with adolescent, power mad guitarists or horn sections, maybe you need a 200 or 300 watt rig. I pity the condition of your ears under those circumstances. I gave up that kind of abuse years ago.
I'm currently using a 40-watt Fender Deluxe Hot Rod, with analog delay and EQ and the tone is do die for. Plus, it's easy on the (old) back.

I should say, I'm not the one to tell anyone what they SHOULD do. I only know what works for me.

--JR

The only amp I use is a 30 watt Rickenbacker
M-15 made in 1956.

GB

You know, I'd almost think we were talking horse power and cars here. The same logic and reasoning applys. I mean didn't we all fool General Motors and Ford a couple decades back and maybe still do. I can understand someone cringing over a 1000 watt rig like I use but then I cringe when some little chick @ 5'2"/100 lbs passes me in a Dodge Super SUV with 4 or five hundred horses. She might as well have a Sherman tank but don't try to tell her that.....she's got exactly what she needs and wants and it doesn't matter a dang what you think about her mojo !!

Regards, Paul

Anything that goes up to 11...

You need to triple the amount of power in a tube amp to get the equivalent headroom from a solid state amp. I've been playing with a stereo tube amp that's 50 watts per side, and it can get VERY LOUD.

I'm moving this topic to the Electronics section of the Forum...

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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